Golf club grip

ABSTRACT

A novel golf club grip having a resilient, one-piece tapered body that can be easily and quickly adhesively bonded to the gripping extremity of the shaft of the golf club. The golf club grip uniquely includes an end cap that is constructed from graphite or like material that protects the golf club grip as a golf club is inserted into and removed from the golf bag and also functions to prevent damage to other golf clubs already within the bag.

This is a Divisional Application of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/647,009 filed Dec. 27, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to golf clubs. More particularly, the invention concerns a golf club grip of novel design.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

A wide variety of golf club grips for interconnection with golf club shafts have been suggested in the past. A very common type of prior art golf club grip consists of a first layer of double-sided adhesive tape that is wound about the gripping extremity of the golf club shaft. A second layer comprising an elongated strip of leather-like material is then spirally wrapped about the first layer to form the completed grip.

Conventional prior art golf club grips are often somewhat complex in construction, difficult to affix to the golf club and often times are quite costly. Additionally, because of the configuration of the prior art golf clubs and the conventional golf club grips that are affixed thereto, the grips tend to become scuffed and damaged as they are repeatedly inserted into and removed from the golf bag. This damage is due to the golf club grips striking other golf clubs that are already in the golf bag as well as repeatedly engaging the sides and bottom of the golf bag.

The thrust of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art golf club grips by providing a novel grip that is of simple construction, can be inexpensively manufactured and one that can be easily and quickly interconnected with a golf club. More particularly, in one form of the invention the but portion of the golf club grip is provided with a low friction cap of novel construction that can easily slide along the sides of the golf bag as well as the golf clubs within the bag in a manner to effectively protect the golf club grips from damage. While various materials can be used to construct the cap, materials exhibiting low friction properties, such as graphite, fluoropolymer resins (TEFLON) and like materials have been shown to be suitable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel golf club grip that can be easily and quickly interconnected with the shaft of the golf club.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel golf club grip of the aforementioned character that is durable in use, is of simple construction and one that can be inexpensively manufactured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a golf club grip of the character described, which includes a novel end cap that is constructed from a graphite or like material that protects the golf club grip as a golf club is inserted into and removed from the golf bag and also functions to protect other golf clubs already within the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a generally perspective view of one form of the golf club grip of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a generally perspective, fragmentary, exploded view of an alternate form of the golf club grip of the present invention having a low friction end cap.

FIG. 4 is a generally perspective, fragmentary view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the low friction end cap interconnected with the body portion of the grip.

FIG. 4A is a generally perspective, full view of the golf club grip shown in FIG. 4, partly broken away to show internal construction.

FIG. 4B is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines 4B-4B of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a generally perspective, fragmentary, exploded view of another form of the golf club grip of the present invention having a differently configured low friction end cap.

FIG. 6 is a generally perspective, fragmentary view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the low friction end cap interconnected with the body portion of the grip.

DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, one form of the golf club grip of the present invention is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 14. Grip 14 is designed to be adhesively interconnected with the gripping extremity “GE” (see FIG. 3) of a conventional type of golf club shaft. In this form of the invention the grip comprises a one-piece, resilient sleeve 16 that is designed to be closely received over the gripping extremity of the golf club shaft. Sleeve 16 can be constructed from a soft rubber material, a synthetic rubber material or similar resiliently deformable materials. As best seen in FIG. 2, sleeve 16 includes tapered body portion 16 a having an enlarged diameter end portion 16 b and a reduced diameter end portion 16 c. Sleeve 16 also includes an inner surface 16 d and an outer surface 16 e. Substantially covering the inner surface 16 e is an adhesive “A” that functions to securely bond the sleeve to the outer surface of the golf club shaft. While various types of commercially available adhesives can be used to bond the sleeve to the golf club shaft an adhesive manufactured and sold by New Grip under the designation New Grip has proven to be well suited for present purposes.

Turning to FIGS. 3, 4, 4A and 4B of the drawings, an alternate form of the golf club grip of the invention is there shown and generally designated by the numeral 20. This grip is similar in some respects to the grip shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but uniquely includes a specially designed low friction cap 22 that is adapted to be connected to the enlarged diameter end portion 20 a of the tapered body 20 b of the grip 20 in the manner best seen in FIGS. 4 and 4A of the drawings.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, cap 22 includes a top wall 23 and a skirt portion 24 having a peripheral portion 24 a. In the present form of the invention cap 22 is formed from a graphite material which permits the golf club grip to smoothly slide into the golf bag without damaging the grip, the golf bag or golf clubs carried within the golf bag. Because of the novel configuration of the cap 22 and the manner by which it is interconnected with the body portion 26 of the grip, the cap functions in a superior manner to protect the body portion of the grip even when the grip is forcefully inserted into the golf bag. Additionally, cap 22 effectively prevents damage to the golf club grip even when the golf club forcefully impacts the bottom of the golf bag. While the end cap of the present embodiment of the invention is constructed from graphite, various other materials with low friction properties, such as graphite, fluoropolymer resins (TEFLON) and like can also be used.

Substantially covering the inner surface 26 a of the tapered body portion 26 of the grip is an adhesive “A” that functions to securely bond the grip to the gripping extremity of the outer surface “OS” of the golf club shaft “S” (FIGS. 4A and 4B). While various types of commercially available adhesives can be used to bond the sleeve to the golf club shaft and adhesive manufactured and sold by New Grip under the designation New Grip has proven to be well suited for present purposes.

Cap 22 here includes novel connector means for interconnecting the cap with the enlarged diameter portion 20 a of tapered body portion 20 b. In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 4A, the connector means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart, generally triangular-shaped connector elements 28 formed on the lower periphery 24 a of skirt portion 24 and a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart, generally triangular-shaped connector elements 29 that are formed on enlarged diameter end portion 20 a of tapered body portion 20 b. Connector elements 28 and 29 are constructed and arranged to closely mate when the cap 22 is connected to the enlarged diameter portion 20 a of tapered body portion 20 b in the manner shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, still another form of the golf club grip of the invention is there shown and generally designated as the numeral 30. This grip is similar in some respects to the grip shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, but uniquely includes a specially designed cap 32 that is adapted to be connected to the enlarged diameter end portion 30 a of tapered body 30 b of the grip 30 in the manner shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. As illustrated in FIG. 5, cap 32 includes a top wall 33 having an opening 33 a and a skirt portion 34 having a peripheral portion 34 a. In this latest form of the invention, cap 32, like cap 22, is formed from a graphite material which permits the golf club grip to smoothly slide into the golf bag without damaging the grip, the golf bag or golf clubs carried within the golf bag. Also formed from a graphite material is a generally cylindrical insert 35 that is carried by shaft “S” and is closely received within cap opening 33 a in the manner shown in FIG. 6. Because of the novel configuration of the insert 35, the cap 32 and the manner by which the cap is interconnected with the body portion 36 of the grip, the cap functions in a superior manner to protect the body portion of the grip even when the grip is forcefully inserted into the golf bag. Additionally, cap 32 effectively prevents damage to the golf club grip even when the golf club forcefully impacts the bottom of the golf bag.

Like cap 22, cap 32 includes novel connector means for interconnecting the cap with the enlarged diameter portion 30 a of tapered body portion 30 b. In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the connector means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart generally rectangular-shaped connector elements 38 formed on the lower periphery 34 a of skirt portion 34 and also includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart, generally rectangular-shaped connector elements 40 that are formed on enlarged diameter end portion 30 a. Connector elements 38 and 40 are constructed and arranged to closely mate when the cap 32 is connected to the enlarged diameter portion of the tapered body in the manner shown in FIG. 6.

Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A golf club grip for interconnection with a golf club shaft having a gripping extremity, said golf club grip comprising: (a) a tapered body having in an enlarged diameter end portion; and (b) a cap connected to said enlarged diameter end portion of said tapered body, said cap including a peripheral portion formed from a graphite material, said cap indicating connector means for interconnecting said cap with said enlarged diameter end portion of said tapered body, said connector means being generally rectangular in shape.
 2. A golf club grip for interconnection with a golf club shaft having a gripping extremity, said golf club grip comprising: (a) a tapered body having an enlarged diameter end portion; and (b) a graphite cap connected to said enlarged diameter end portion of said tapered body, said cap including: (i) upper surface; (ii) a skirt portion extending downwardly from said upper surface; and (iii) a plurality of circumferentially spaced first connector elements provided on said skirt portion. (iv) a plurality of circumferentially spaced second connector elements formed on said enlarged diameter portion of said tapered body, said first and second connector elements being generally rectangular in shape.
 3. A golf club grip for interconnection with a golf club shaft having a gripping extremity, said grip comprising: (a) a one-piece resilient sleeve closely receivable over the gripping extremity of the golf club shaft, said sleeve having an inner surface and an outer surface and a tapered body portion having an enlarged diameter end portion having a plurality of circumferentially spaced second connector elements; (b) a bonding material substantially covering said inner surface of said sleeve for bonding said sleeve to the gripping extremity of the golf club shaft; and (c) an end cap connected to said enlarged diameter end portion of said tapered body, said end cap being constructed from a low friction material and including a plurality of circumferentially spaced first connector elements, said first and second connector elements being generally triangular in shape. 